Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

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The Perils of Bias Binding

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I don't typically make all my bindings on the bias, so when I do choose to do that, I pretty much have to re-invent the wheel.  There many ways to go wrong with the technique for making bias bindings, and it is a wonderful opportunity for me to be all kinds of stupid.

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The directions are kind of confusing, at least to my feeble brain.  I have done it a number of times before, and if I prevail and use the brain cells I have left after decades of chardonnay consumption, I can usually do it again.  Basically, you take a square of fabric and cut it in half on the diagonal.  Then things get tricky.  You sew a tooth shaped thing, which you open up and draw lines on.  You make a tube like shape, but be sure to off-set the drawn lines and sew another seam.  If you get this step wrong, you will end up with 20 circles of binding.  Don't ask me how I know this.  if you get it correct, when you cut on the lines, you will have a nice long strip of continuous bias binding.  Works great if you can wrap your mind around the instructions.  

My first set came out nicely.  But it wasn't enough in length to go around the quilt.  So I had to make another set.  Only somehow I got the stripe going in the opposite direction with my second try.

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What?  No, are you kidding me?  That is not the effect I am going for.  I got it right on my third attempt, and managed to use more fabric making binding for one quilt than has ever been achieved in the history of quilting.

57 responses to “The Perils of Bias Binding”

  1. I have used that technique too. Definitely not my favorite for more than one reason. I only occasionally will go for a bias binding but I bought a long pointy ruler years ago at PIQF to cut the strips. I find it useful and much less annoying 🙂
    The “pointy” reference is because one end of it has a 45 degree edge to it that sits on the edge of your fabric setting the ruler to cut on the bias. If your interested, I can see if there is more info on the ruler and package for finding another one. I did see them selling something similar last year at the show.

  2. I have used that technique too. Definitely not my favorite for more than one reason. I only occasionally will go for a bias binding but I bought a long pointy ruler years ago at PIQF to cut the strips. I find it useful and much less annoying 🙂
    The “pointy” reference is because one end of it has a 45 degree edge to it that sits on the edge of your fabric setting the ruler to cut on the bias. If your interested, I can see if there is more info on the ruler and package for finding another one. I did see them selling something similar last year at the show.

  3. I have used that technique too. Definitely not my favorite for more than one reason. I only occasionally will go for a bias binding but I bought a long pointy ruler years ago at PIQF to cut the strips. I find it useful and much less annoying 🙂
    The “pointy” reference is because one end of it has a 45 degree edge to it that sits on the edge of your fabric setting the ruler to cut on the bias. If your interested, I can see if there is more info on the ruler and package for finding another one. I did see them selling something similar last year at the show.

  4. So glad to hear that someone else can’t get their head around the tube construction! I’m fine until Step 3 – can never get all to line up correctly, when matching going in opposite directions – mess it up every time!I’ve found I can make quicker by just cutting strips on the 45 degree angle on my ruler. Keeps the brain from hurting. 🙂

  5. So glad to hear that someone else can’t get their head around the tube construction! I’m fine until Step 3 – can never get all to line up correctly, when matching going in opposite directions – mess it up every time!I’ve found I can make quicker by just cutting strips on the 45 degree angle on my ruler. Keeps the brain from hurting. 🙂

  6. So glad to hear that someone else can’t get their head around the tube construction! I’m fine until Step 3 – can never get all to line up correctly, when matching going in opposite directions – mess it up every time!I’ve found I can make quicker by just cutting strips on the 45 degree angle on my ruler. Keeps the brain from hurting. 🙂

  7. No! Shhhhhhh…here’s what I do…because the ‘real’ method of cutting bias binding is way more than my pay grade. I lay out the fabric flat on my cutting mat–it’s a big one–then use the diagonal line that’s marked on the mat & slice that first slice of the fabric on that line. Now, I just start following that edge for 2 1/2″ strips until I get enough to go around. And, there’s always the other half that was cut off with that first slice. Is this the proper way to do it? Probably not. But my striped binding looks good & nobody knows…remember, don’t tell anyone!

  8. No! Shhhhhhh…here’s what I do…because the ‘real’ method of cutting bias binding is way more than my pay grade. I lay out the fabric flat on my cutting mat–it’s a big one–then use the diagonal line that’s marked on the mat & slice that first slice of the fabric on that line. Now, I just start following that edge for 2 1/2″ strips until I get enough to go around. And, there’s always the other half that was cut off with that first slice. Is this the proper way to do it? Probably not. But my striped binding looks good & nobody knows…remember, don’t tell anyone!

  9. No! Shhhhhhh…here’s what I do…because the ‘real’ method of cutting bias binding is way more than my pay grade. I lay out the fabric flat on my cutting mat–it’s a big one–then use the diagonal line that’s marked on the mat & slice that first slice of the fabric on that line. Now, I just start following that edge for 2 1/2″ strips until I get enough to go around. And, there’s always the other half that was cut off with that first slice. Is this the proper way to do it? Probably not. But my striped binding looks good & nobody knows…remember, don’t tell anyone!

  10. That was how I learned to do bias binding back in the “olden days”. These days I use straight grain binding and find that I get much better corners than I ever did with bias.
    But, if I need to do bias I lay my fabric in one layer, used a 45 degree angle to cut a corner and then just cut bias strips the width I want.
    Yes, there are more seams to sew and to deal with, but it saves me from the mental calisthenics that the tube method requires.
    Glad to hear that I am not the only one with the problem.

  11. That was how I learned to do bias binding back in the “olden days”. These days I use straight grain binding and find that I get much better corners than I ever did with bias.
    But, if I need to do bias I lay my fabric in one layer, used a 45 degree angle to cut a corner and then just cut bias strips the width I want.
    Yes, there are more seams to sew and to deal with, but it saves me from the mental calisthenics that the tube method requires.
    Glad to hear that I am not the only one with the problem.

  12. That was how I learned to do bias binding back in the “olden days”. These days I use straight grain binding and find that I get much better corners than I ever did with bias.
    But, if I need to do bias I lay my fabric in one layer, used a 45 degree angle to cut a corner and then just cut bias strips the width I want.
    Yes, there are more seams to sew and to deal with, but it saves me from the mental calisthenics that the tube method requires.
    Glad to hear that I am not the only one with the problem.

  16. Yep, I am definitely “bias binding challenged” too! My poor brain tries so hard to not make it complicated but somehow it always turns into quite a feat. The worst part is I absolutely love how a bias stripe binding looks.

  17. Yep, I am definitely “bias binding challenged” too! My poor brain tries so hard to not make it complicated but somehow it always turns into quite a feat. The worst part is I absolutely love how a bias stripe binding looks.

  18. Yep, I am definitely “bias binding challenged” too! My poor brain tries so hard to not make it complicated but somehow it always turns into quite a feat. The worst part is I absolutely love how a bias stripe binding looks.

  19. I, also, am “bias binding challenged” and always pull out books showing me pics!! So glad that so many share the same affliction, I feel better:)))

  20. I, also, am “bias binding challenged” and always pull out books showing me pics!! So glad that so many share the same affliction, I feel better:)))

  21. I, also, am “bias binding challenged” and always pull out books showing me pics!! So glad that so many share the same affliction, I feel better:)))

  22. Take a look at Bonnie Hunter’s blog Quiltville’s Quips and Snips. She has an alternative method that I think is MUCH easier – no tube and no offset! Find the tab that says Tips and techniques and then scroll down to bias binding.
    Melissa

  23. Take a look at Bonnie Hunter’s blog Quiltville’s Quips and Snips. She has an alternative method that I think is MUCH easier – no tube and no offset! Find the tab that says Tips and techniques and then scroll down to bias binding.
    Melissa

  24. Take a look at Bonnie Hunter’s blog Quiltville’s Quips and Snips. She has an alternative method that I think is MUCH easier – no tube and no offset! Find the tab that says Tips and techniques and then scroll down to bias binding.
    Melissa

  28. In my 20+ years of quilting, I’ve never made a bias binding. Since I don’t intend to make a quilt with a scalloped edge, I suppose I’ll never need to!
    Hugs!

  29. In my 20+ years of quilting, I’ve never made a bias binding. Since I don’t intend to make a quilt with a scalloped edge, I suppose I’ll never need to!
    Hugs!

  30. In my 20+ years of quilting, I’ve never made a bias binding. Since I don’t intend to make a quilt with a scalloped edge, I suppose I’ll never need to!
    Hugs!

  31. the only time I use bias binding is when I make a baby quilt that is backed with minky. I round the corners (to eliminate the bulk of a mitered corner) and make a continuous bias binding that is sewn on in one pass. Works every time. I am also contemplating a scalloped edge – would probably use a bias binding for that as well.

  32. the only time I use bias binding is when I make a baby quilt that is backed with minky. I round the corners (to eliminate the bulk of a mitered corner) and make a continuous bias binding that is sewn on in one pass. Works every time. I am also contemplating a scalloped edge – would probably use a bias binding for that as well.

  33. the only time I use bias binding is when I make a baby quilt that is backed with minky. I round the corners (to eliminate the bulk of a mitered corner) and make a continuous bias binding that is sewn on in one pass. Works every time. I am also contemplating a scalloped edge – would probably use a bias binding for that as well.

  37. That’s the reason why I never make a bias binding. I just can’t work out this complicate instruction and personally I think it’s a waste of fabric. Straight binding works great for me (and don’t tell I even do it when I have a curved outer edge it still works;-)

  38. That’s the reason why I never make a bias binding. I just can’t work out this complicate instruction and personally I think it’s a waste of fabric. Straight binding works great for me (and don’t tell I even do it when I have a curved outer edge it still works;-)

  39. That’s the reason why I never make a bias binding. I just can’t work out this complicate instruction and personally I think it’s a waste of fabric. Straight binding works great for me (and don’t tell I even do it when I have a curved outer edge it still works;-)

  43. i have seen that method but never tried…too much brain work involved…lol…so i commend anyone who does it easily…

  44. i have seen that method but never tried…too much brain work involved…lol…so i commend anyone who does it easily…

  45. i have seen that method but never tried…too much brain work involved…lol…so i commend anyone who does it easily…

  49. OMG At least I am not the only moron about this process. It looks so good too! Sounds like you have it under control now. I did smile but I know from personal experience it is not all that funny!
    Mary

  50. OMG At least I am not the only moron about this process. It looks so good too! Sounds like you have it under control now. I did smile but I know from personal experience it is not all that funny!
    Mary

  51. OMG At least I am not the only moron about this process. It looks so good too! Sounds like you have it under control now. I did smile but I know from personal experience it is not all that funny!
    Mary

  52. Ditto! Have tried the tube method more than a few times and never seem to get it right. Most often wind up cutting separate strips and sewing them together just like I do for straight of grain. Long for the day someone can figure out a way to make cutting bias binding simple and foolproof!

  53. Ditto! Have tried the tube method more than a few times and never seem to get it right. Most often wind up cutting separate strips and sewing them together just like I do for straight of grain. Long for the day someone can figure out a way to make cutting bias binding simple and foolproof!

  54. Ditto! Have tried the tube method more than a few times and never seem to get it right. Most often wind up cutting separate strips and sewing them together just like I do for straight of grain. Long for the day someone can figure out a way to make cutting bias binding simple and foolproof!

  55. A long time ago I’d do the tube method. I still do bias but simply cut 2.25″ strips at a 45° angle and sew the strips together at the appropriate angle. It looks like your persistence paid off.

  56. A long time ago I’d do the tube method. I still do bias but simply cut 2.25″ strips at a 45° angle and sew the strips together at the appropriate angle. It looks like your persistence paid off.

  57. A long time ago I’d do the tube method. I still do bias but simply cut 2.25″ strips at a 45° angle and sew the strips together at the appropriate angle. It looks like your persistence paid off.